A girl lying on her stomach on green grass, taking a photograph with a camera. She is wearing a green jacket, gray tights, and black shoes, with a yellow headband. The background includes a tree, open field, houses, and a clear sky.

Shutter Squad

FOR AGES 8-11

Shutter Squad Sessions
£60.00

Shutter Squad is designed for older children ready to build confidence behind the camera and explore photography in more depth. Through hands-on sessions, they’ll develop skills in composition, light, and storytelling while creating work they’re proud of.

Select your workshop or course from the drop-down list below.

Perfect for children who are ready to take their photography more seriously, without losing the fun.

Building confident, creative photographers with real skills

Shutter Squad is designed for children aged 8–11 who are ready to go beyond the basics and start developing their photography skills in a more focused, hands-on way.

Whether they’re continuing from Little Lens Club or joining us for the first time, this is where creativity starts to take shape and confidence really grows.

What to Expect

Shutter Squad sessions combine creativity with skill-building, helping children understand not just how to take a photo, but why it works.

Through a mix of practical photography exercises, creative challenges and guided projects, children explore:

  • Composition techniques (like the rule of thirds)

  • How to use light, colour and perspective

  • An introduction to manual camera settings such as aperture and shutter speed

  • How to tell stories through their images

  • The work of influential photographers, helping them understand different styles, ideas and approaches to photography

By exploring photography as both a creative skill and an art form, children begin to develop a deeper understanding of visual storytelling.

More Than Just a Photography Class

Shutter Squad is about more than just taking photos, it’s about helping children develop their own way of seeing the world.

Sessions are designed to:

  • Build confidence and independence

  • Encourage creative thinking and problem solving

  • Develop an understanding of visual art and photography history

  • Help children build a strong creative voice

As their skills grow, so does their ability to express themselves through photography in a thoughtful and intentional way.

Workshops, Clubs & Term-Time Sessions

We offer a range of ways for children to get involved with Shutter Squad:

  • Seasonal and holiday workshops

  • After-school photography sessions (open to children from any school)

  • In-school clubs and workshops (expanding to more schools from September 2026)

This flexible approach means children can join us in a way that suits them, whether that’s a one-off creative workshop or a full term of sessions.

Small Groups, Meaningful Learning

Sessions are intentionally kept small and supportive, allowing each child to receive guidance, ask questions and develop their skills with confidence.

We create an environment where children feel comfortable experimenting, making mistakes and trying new ideas, because that’s where the real learning happens.

Join Shutter Squad

Take a look at the calendar to see upcoming Shutter Squad workshops and after-school sessions.

And if you’d like to be first to hear about new dates, school partnerships and upcoming opportunities, make sure you’re signed up to our mailing list.

Current & Upcoming Sessions

  • Tickhill St Mary's Lunch Club

    Starts Thursday 16th April

    Tickhill St Mary’s School

    A 1hr session that runs every Thursday during term time.

  • After School Club

    Thursdays 4:30-5:3PM

    Location: Tickhill Pavilion

    Weekly sessions, giving your child the chance to develop their skills over time.

  • Summer Sessions

    Date TBC

    Location: TBC

    A special series for summer. Available to book individually or as a course!

A young woman with red hair tied back in a ponytail, wearing a green jacket with a fur-lined hood, is looking through the viewfinder of a black digital camera outdoors in front of brick buildings and greenery.
A young girl with a hooded pink jacket, black pants, and shiny black boots stands in an outdoor playground area, holding a camera up to her face and taking a photo. The background features a school building with large windows, a basketball hoop, and two children playing.
A young girl with red hair, blue eyes, and freckles, smiling, wearing a blue cardigan over a white collared shirt, indoors with colorful decorations in the background.
Close-up of green grass with small white flowers, blurred background with a large tree trunk and a dark cat in the distance.
A guinea pig is seen through the hole of a yellow plastic tube.

❊ FAQs

You’ve got questions,
we’ve got answers

  • Sessions are 1 hour long and follow a simple, structured format.

    We begin by introducing the focus of the session, explaining the concept in a way that’s easy for children to understand. This might be something like composition, light or a specific photography technique.

    From there, we move into hands-on practice, giving children time to explore, experiment and apply what they’ve learned using the cameras.

    Each session is designed to feel engaging and accessible, while still building real skills over time.

  • No, all equipment is provided, including cameras.

    If your child already has a camera they enjoy using, they’re very welcome to bring it along.

    Before each session, you’ll receive a simple checklist with anything they might need depending on the location and weather, such as raincoats, sun hats or a water bottle.

    For lunchtime school sessions, requirements may vary slightly depending on your child’s school. In some cases, children may need to bring a packed lunch, but you’ll receive clear instructions ahead of the term so you know exactly what to expect.

  • To keep sessions supportive and well-paced, numbers are kept intentionally small.

    • In-school sessions are capped at 10 children per class

    • Most location-based workshops are capped at around 8 children

    This allows each child to have plenty of time with the camera, as well as individual guidance and support throughout the session.

  • Yes, if there are spaces available, your child is very welcome to join at any stage during the term.

    The price will be adjusted accordingly to reflect the remaining sessions, so you’re only paying for what’s left.

  • Our lunchtime and after-school clubs run as termly courses, rather than drop-in sessions.

    This is because the sessions follow a structured syllabus, allowing children to build on their skills week by week and really grow in confidence.

    If you’re unable to commit to a full term, you can still get involved through our one-off workshops, which run regularly during school holidays and seasonal periods.

  • Our after-school sessions are open to children from any school, so your child is very welcome to join us there.

    If you think your child’s school would benefit from Little Lens Club or Shutter Squad, feel free to share their details with me and I’d be more than happy to reach out.

    And if you’re a teacher or school representative, you can find more information about bringing our sessions into your school on our Schools page.

  • Yes, absolutely.

    Little Lens Club and Shutter Squad sessions are designed to be inclusive, low-pressure and supportive, with plenty of opportunity for movement, exploration and learning in different ways.

    There’s no expectation to sit still or get things “perfect”, children are encouraged to engage at their own pace, follow their interests and take breaks if needed.

    If there’s anything specific that would help your child feel more comfortable, you’re always welcome to get in touch ahead of the session so we can make sure they feel supported.

  • Throughout the term, your child’s photos are carefully reviewed and their best images are collated into a final gallery, which is shared with you at the end of the course.

    During the sessions, children will also have opportunities to select, print and keep their favourite photos, often adding them to their own album as the weeks go on.

    It’s a lovely way for them to see their progress over time and take pride in what they’ve created.

❊Other Age Groups

More to explore

Looking for a different age group? We offer programs children all the way up to 15 years. Find out more below.

Little Lens Club

Best for children aged 4-7 years

Focus Collective

Best for children aged 12–15 years